Thumbs-down to lift outrages commuters

Give us a lift: Ken Hooper, Petar Petkovski, Cabramatta MP Nick Lalich and Peter Jenkins are calling on the state government to install a lift at Canley Vale station.Picture: Jeff de Pasquale

COMMUTERS travelling to and from Canley Vale station will continue to bear the brunt of negotiating nearly 80 stairs after their calls for lifts have fallen on deaf ears.

Regular commuter Ken Hooper, 77, who has had two knee reconstructions, said he was appalled at the state government's decision.

"I'm not happy about it because I find it very difficult to walk down these steps," he said. "It's very steep and it puts a lot of pressure on my knees.

"Parents with prams also find it difficult to use.

I saw one woman trip the other morning. It's very dangerous."

Another commuter, Arch Biscoe, 85, of Canley Vale, agreed.

"It's ridiculous the state government has said no to installing a much-needed lift," he said. "There should be one here because it's very difficult walking up and down these steps."

Cabramatta MP Nick Lalich MP was also disgusted at the government's refusal.

He said despite having 12,000 signatures on

a petition and sending several letters to Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian, his request to have

a lift installed had fallen on deaf ears.

"I've just received a response from the Transport Minister that ignores our community's request for lifts at Canley Vale station," he said.

"It just shows how much this government cares for the people in the Cabramatta area."

Mr Lalich said he told the minister that lifts were needed to improve access for people with a disability, the elderly and parents with prams.

"I've also told her that with the current works under way at Canley Vale station, now is the perfect time to start work on a lift at the station," he said.

A spokesman for Ms Berejiklian said since the $770 million Transport Access Program was launched in April 2012, more than 120 projects were under way across the state.

"As part of the Transport Access Program, Transport for NSW is well advanced with upgrades at Canley Vale station that include new accessible ramps and stairs on both sides of the station, improvements to the footpath, new pram ramps, upgrades to the existing kiss-and-ride area and new bike racks," he said.

Mr Lalich said he would continue to fight for what he called "this important piece of infrastructure".